Ask a student at The University of New Mexico School of Engineering if they’ve worked with Elsa Castillo, director of the Engineering Student Success Center, and there’s a good chance they’ll share a story about how she has supported their education in one way or another.

Castillo, who has worked in higher education for over 25 years, was honored with three major awards during the 2025-26 school year for her efforts to support students in STEM.

SHPEtina of the Year

In April, Castillo was named recipient of the SHPEtina of the Year…

Marek Flaska has been named Chair of The University of New Mexico’s Department of Nuclear Engineering. He will begin the role on Aug. 10.

Flaska joins UNM from Penn State University’s Kenneth and Mary Alice Lindquist Department of Nuclear Engineering, where he has been a faculty member since 2015. He has 20 years of expertise in computational and experimental radiation transport focused on fundamental and applied radiation-detection applications. Prior to joining Penn State, Flaska was a postdoctoral researcher and later a…

The program will be the first of its kind in the state

The University of New Mexico School of Engineering was approved by the New Mexico Higher Education Department to launch a new bioengineering bachelor’s degree. It is believed to be the School’s first new undergraduate degree program in 40 years.

The new degree will help prepare students to work in healthcare, agriculture, food science, pharmaceuticals, and other fields related to biological innovation.

“We’ve heard from many students that a bachelor’s degree in bio…